POINT LOMA  A busted water pipe caused a large sinkhole to form and led to the shutdown of water service for several apartment complexes Sunday, while forcing the closure of a major roadway, officials said.

The rupture of a 16-inch cast iron water main caused flooding on Nimitz Boulevard near Shafter Street around 3 a.m. said Arian Collins, public information officer with the San Diego Public Utilities Department. The sinkhole is between 15 and 20 feet wide, he said.

Crews were cleaning up the spill on Sunday. Nimitz Boulevard and the water main will need repairs, Collins said. The street will remain closed to traffic in both directions between Rosecrans Street and North Harbor Drive at least through Monday, he said.

Several large apartment complexes were without water while crews cleaned the spill.

“It’s like pumping out a swimming pool,” Collins said.

Collins estimated water would be restored around 10:30 p.m. Sunday.

Although crews haven’t been able to assess the broken line, Collins said he can “almost guarantee” corrosion was the cause.

Collins said nearby residents may have experienced water damage from the spill.

“There was a lot of water and mud on the street,” he said.

Residents will need to work with insurance companies to file a claim with the city if their property suffered damaged, Collins said.